A subset of ES-cell-derived neural cells marked by gene targeting.

Embryonic stem cells differentiate efficiently in culture into neural progenitors, neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. An embryonic stem (ES) cell line with green fluorescent protein (GFP) inserted into the gene for Olig2, a lineage-specific transcription factor, permits visualization and physical separation of a subset of living ES-cell-derived neural cells. GFP-expressing cells have morphological and antigenic properties of the oligodendrocyte lineage.